Resident Ravens

We have a resident pair of ravens at our float cabin on Powell Lake. While other birds come and go with the seasons, the ravens stay put.

It's amazing how many vocalizations they make. To me, the most amazing is the clicking sound. The raven has a prominent place in Sliammon First Nation and Coastal Salish history. In legends he was a shape changer and a trickster. If you've ever seen a raven, you know that describes him well.

Ravens are major scavengers. A favourite target is Brodie's dog food. Bro is our good friend John's dog. Every time they see John's backpack, they rip (literally) into it searching for food. One time we saw a raven fly off with a full can of sardines. He perched on an outcropping, ripped the can open and devoured the contents. Amazing.

Occasionally one raven will come down and roost near the cabin, but most often we hear them across the bay near John's cabin, soaring on the currents above the Hole in the Wall, or perched in the trees on the lookout for tasty morsels.

If you aren't familiar with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website All About Birds, it is a great online tool for bird identification and information. -- Margy